Abdominal belt



J. TIETJEN ABDOMINAL BELT Oct. 29, 1935.

Filed May 19, 1934 JOH Pl TlLTdEH INVENTOR BY y pm HlS ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 I UNITED STATES eATENT oFFIcE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to abdominal belts and relates more specifically to a partially elastic hernia belt of improved construction.

One of the principal objections to the presently known hernia belts is in the fact that if the belt is suflioiently strong to retain the intestines or the omentum within the abdominal cavity it greatly restricts the effective movement of the person so wearing it and is generally a source of considerable discomfort. Furthermore, in hernia belts of the usual rigid construction, the pad frequently slips off or is moved away from the protruding portion and the Weak spot in the abdominal wall is again opened out and any improvement in the persons condition which may have been going on for some time will be quickly undone.

Some success has been obtained by the use of elastic or semi-elastic belts but these for the most part have the quality of frequently pressing down on the hernia opening or rupture with the attendant discomfort.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved hernia belt which is exceedingly comfortable to the wearer, which virtually never moves out of the desired place, which does not in any measure restrict the body movements of the wearer, whether in walking, stooping or bending, and which may be worn with no appreciable feeling while one is asleep, in order that a cough or an accidental movement during such sleep will not disturb the affected parts.

To this end the invention contemplates the provision of a belt of substantial width, being shaped to fit the curves and convolutions of the middle round, the belt including a substantially non-elastic base or backing portion of a heavy flannel or other fabric of fairly loose texture having a nap on one or both sides. The inner surface of this portion of the belt is adapted to directly engage the body or the underclothing and the outer surface thereof is provided with a plurality of overlapping courses of relatively narrow strips of elastic material which are stitched along their edges to the backing portion. The free ends of the belt are provided with suitable adjustable or non-adjustable fastening means which desirably join at the rear of the body. The front central portion of the belt is formed so as to curve downwardly and by drawing the elastic fabric somewhat more tightly at this portion prior to the stitching, the front lower section is inclined inwardly, thereby giving additional support to the abdomen.

The resulting belt is possessed of great firmness without being in any measure rigid or stiff. The various portions of the belt yield with each movement of the body, although always preserving a firm support for the abdominal wall.

The pads, hereinafter described in more detail, which are constructed preferably of chamois skin with a suitable resilient filler, are always caused to maintain their proper position, since the belt proper can move neither axially or vertically by 10 virtue of the gripping action produced by the combination of the fabric and the elastic.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved semi-elastic belt which may be worn without the pads to provide a relatively easy 15 but firm support for the abdominal walls in order to aid in the forestalling of a rupture, the embodiment being particularly useful for persons engaged in work requiring the lifting of heavy articles.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a novel abdominal belt which is useful as a maternity belt and. may have a variety of other uses.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention in perspective.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof also in perspective.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a broken front elevation of a portion of the belt showing certain details in the construction thereof.

As heretofore stated, the improved structure in its preferred form comprises a belt which includes a substantially non-elastic elongated base or backing portion 5 which is made preferably from heavy flannel or other fabric of loose texture having a nap on one or both sides.

In the event that the fabric has a nap on one side only, this side is desirably placed inwardly so as to engage directly the body of the wearer or to engage the underclothing in order to prevent same from slipping. The backing portion is relatively more narrow at its end portions as indicated at 6 and the central portion which is indicated at l is Wider, in order to provide additional support for the abdominal walls. The lower edge is curved downwardly along the central portion 50 thereof as indicated at 8, in order to more firmly support the lower portion of the abdomen. The upper and lower longitudinal edges 9 of the backing portion are turned inwardly and a strip. of relatively narrow elastic fabric I0 is stitched 55 along the lower edge thereof, as indicated at H in Fig. 4.

A second strip I2 is then inserted under the upper or free edge of the elastic strip l0 and said upper edge is stitched, as indicated at 13, through the strip I2, and through the backing portion, thereby securing both strips to said backing portion. The adjacent strips thereabove are likewise secured to the backing portion in precisely the same fashion. In order to compensate for the added width at the center of the belt, a number of the strips, as indicated at [4, do not extend the full length thereof but terminate short of the ends at a suitable point as indicated at l5 in Fig. 1.

The resulting belt is one of extreme firmness, and of comparative elasticity, but in nosense rigid. In order to shape the belt to cause the lower front central portion thereof to incline somewhat inwardly, the first two or three courses of the elastic fabric .are necessarily drawn somewhat tighter over the area prior to the stitching.

The terminal portions of the belt are provided with any suitable adjustable or nonadjustable fastening means. In the drawing this fastening means is shown as comprising a pair of buttons IS on one terminal of the belt, and a pair of straps I! having buttonholes l3 therein secured to the other terminal.

In order to secure the belt against upward movement, a pair of perineal strips H] are detachably secured at opposite ends to the front and rear of the belt respectively by means of buttons 2B which engage the buttonholes 2| in said strips. The cushions 22 which are preferably made from chamois skin are circular in shape and are desirably stitched to a substantially rectangular chamois skin base member 23 which is secured to the backing portion. Each cushion is filled with a desired quantity of suitable resilient material 24 such as wool or the like, and in the event that additional padding is required, a quantity of the resilient material may be inserted between the base member 23 and the backing portion 5, as indicated at 25.

In the event that the belt is to be employed for any of the purposes hitherto enumerated,

other than as a hermia belt, the pads may of 5 than in overlapping relation as in the preferred embodiment. Likewise, instead of employing strips, the elastic may be formed in one piece of substantially the same width as the backing por- 15 tion.

What I claim is:

1. In a rupture belt, an elongated backing portion constructed of heavy, loosely woven flannel, or the like, the central portion thereof being to wider than the end portions, a plurality of adjoining courses of elastic fabric secured to the outer surface thereof, fastening means for securing the free ends of the belt and soft cushion members carried on the inner surface of said belt. 15

2. In a rupture belt, the combination of an elongated backing portion constructed of heavy, loosely woven flannel or the like, the lower central portion .thereof curving downwardly and being wider than the end portions thereof, the in- 80 ner surface thereof being adapted to engage the body of the wearer, a plurality of adjoining strips of elastic material secured to the outer surface of the backing portion, the strips of elastic material adjacent to the lower portion of the belt 35 being more tightly stretched than the strips adjacent to the upper portion in order to cause said lower portion to curve inwardly to afford a more firm support for the abdomen, fastening means for securing the terminals of the belt together, and a soft pad secured to the inner surface of the belt.

. JOHN TIETJEN. 

